Balance Board

ABSTRACT

An exercise device having a top surface, the top surface having a left side and a right side, and front and back sides, where the front side includes a location for a user to rest their foot on the top surface in a central part of the top surface, and includes at least one handle location allowing a user to hold on relative to the top surface, where the handle location is attached to the top surface, and also having a bottom surface, and where the bottom surface includes a central pivot point between side to side at the central part of the top surface, said central pivot point being between first and second stability points, the first stability point being at the left side and the second stability point being at the right side, and also having a third stability point at a front portion of the bottom of the top surface, directly under the central part of the top surface where the user rests their foot, and a fourth stability point at a rear portion of the top surface, opposite to the front portion of the top surface, and a central pivot point from front to back in between the third stability point and the fourth stability point.

BACKGROUND

Balance of the human body is a state of function that declines with age. As a body ages, core muscles can weaken and become less toned, leading to less balance.

Exercise of the muscles needed for balance has not been adequately addressed by any known system.

The problem of activities for the older generation have been ignored for the mass population for fear and lack of programs to aid this ignored generation. Most gym equipment and activities, including home equipment, attempts to build strength. However, this equipment does not cover what the inventors believe to be the most important decline in the body—balance.

The inventors believe that balance is the core action with supplementing strength training into the physical action builds functionality for everyday life.

SUMMARY

The invention is created to help re-train the body to find its functionality with balance, lower and upper body strength, agility, mobility and increasing the quality of life in movement and ability to partake in everyday activities.

Embodiments describe a special balance board that enables exercise of The solution of the embodiments solves the problem of giving back health and movement for physical activity by addressing the body loss of balance and confidence to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The different figures show different embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the balance board;

FIG. 2 illustrates the top surface of the balance board and the holes therein;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the board showing how it can totter between sides;

FIG. 4 shows the front surface; and

FIG. 5 shows a person stepping on to the balance board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The balance board is designed as a platform that has a center flat pivot point that, when stepped on, rocks side to side to a minimum degree. The platform has inclusive holes to attach resistance bands. The front of the platform has a half balance ball for specific balance training and strength for the lower body. The platform has two removable handles for safety and balance assist purposes. The step can also be stabilized with leg attachments. The design covers safety, balance, strength, co-ordination, lower and upper body work, all in one small self contained device.

An advantage of the balance board is its ability to change lives from decline toward improvement. This training will help train to prevent and minimize the falls that many people suffer as they age. By training on a board that supports all aspects of physical needs, everyday life becomes more comfortable. The platform will help with walking, turning, use of stairs, carrying everyday items, and movement for great life function. It will also build confidence to be more active outdoors, helping to lessen obesity gains through inactivity. The overall health of the user will improve and turn back the age clock of physical decline.

An embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a front on perspective view of the balance board assembly 100. The balance board assembly includes a top surface 105 which includes first and second poles 110 and 112 located into holes that are in the top surface. FIG. 2 illustrates how the top surface 110 of the balance board is formed with a number of different holes including outer holes 200, 202 and inner holes 205, 206. In between the inner holes 205, 206 is located an indentation 210 that is substantially circular, and is intended to hold an elastomeric ball device 120, which the user's steps on in order to carry out at least one of the balancing exercises.

FIG. 1 also shows the poles 110, 112 respectively located in the outer holes 200, 202. The poles can be moved into the inner holes 205, 206 for different exercises.

The base has a number of bottom curvature points explained herein and shown throughout the drawings, which enable the base to be rocked from side to side and front to back while maintaining over all stability and without being tipped over. FIG. 3 illustrates the base 100, and illustrates how the bottom surface of the base 300 is uneven, having a substantially seesaw shape, with the first side 305 thinner at its first end 306 and linearly increasing in thickness from the first end 306 to the center portion 310, which is the portion where there is the thickest distance between the top platform of the base 320, and the bottom surface of the base 300. At this thickest portion 310, the base begins again linearly thinning until reaching the second end 315 which is a second end of minimum thickness opposite to the first end. In this way, the bottom of the base is not stable and flat on the floor, but rather is only stable in its two side to side positions including resting on the first end, where the base is resting on a flat surface 307 formed between the first and 306 and the middle portion 310, or when it is resting on the second flat surface 314 formed between the middle portion and the second end 315.

In an alternative embodiment, the surface 307 is not actually flat, but is somewhat curved.

FIG. 4 illustrates a face on view of the base, showing how the bottom surface of the base has two different sections. The rear section 400 includes the sizing parameters shown in FIG. 3, where the rear section 400 has a thickness that linearly gets thicker towards the center portion, and linearly gets thinner towards the edge portions, forming an unstable base. The front portion 410, however, extends from the rear portion 400, and includes a rounded bottom portion 412 directly under the location of the elastomeric ball on which the user steps to carry out the exercises.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the base showing the unstable portions from front to back. The base is thinnest at its central portions 50 hundred and 501. From portion 500 to the first and 520, the base gradually reduces in thickness. Section 500 is actually the bottom portion of the front portion 410. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment where there is only structure at certain points such as 510, and other section such as 520 are hollow. Similarly, the center portion 500, 501 includes 2 structural points, and a hollow section in between them. The section from 501 to the low point at the other end at 510 is similarly a curved section allowing for teetering back and forth, but maintaining stability at either alternate and.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation, where the user stands at the ball and of the device, holds onto the handles 110, 112, and stands on the ball 600. While stepping on the elastomeric ball, the user forces the exercise board from one side to the other, thus exercising their core muscles.

The structure of the invention is based off the center flat stability point of the base 100. The curvature off of the base that allows for the platform to be rocked from side to side without danger of tipping over. The front of the design creates a stability ball insert all in one setup. The poles inserted into the platform as unique as a removable stability assist. These can also be used for the physical training segment of the program.

The platform, as a rocker, can be used for upper body strength training due to the need of dynamic muscle contraction to prevent the rocking. The platform is also perfect for abdominal work as shifting of the body weight can change the intensity of the core work from decline to incline training. The built in holes allow for added resistance training with multiple attachments. Additional legs that insert into the base allow for the rocker to be transformed into a solid non-rocking base for additional training programs.

The balance board addresses all aspects of training through this one single device. The device allow low impact core exercises by rocking, solid, height adjustment and multi-entry points of use for the user while providing stability poles to help the user. Removing the poles also creates a larger base platform for additional activities and body function exercises, and makes it easy to store.

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device, comprising: a device defining a top surface, the top surface having a left side and a right side, and front and back sides, where the front side includes a location for a user to rest their foot on the top surface in a central part of the top surface, and includes at least one handle location allowing a user to hold on relative to the top surface, where the handle location is attached to the top surface, wherein the device also having a bottom surface, and where the bottom surface includes a central pivot point between side to side at the central part of the top surface, said central pivot point being between first and second stability points, the first stability point being at the left side and the second stability point being at the right side.
 2. The exercise device as in claim 1, wherein the bottom surface also includes a third stability point at a front portion of the bottom of the top surface, directly under the central part of the top surface where the user rests their foot, and a fourth stability point at a rear portion of the top surface, opposite to the front portion of the top surface, and a central pivot point from front to back in between the third stability point and the fourth stability point.
 3. The exercise device as in claim 2, wherein the device includes first and second handles, equally spaced around the central part of the top surface where the user's foot is located.
 4. The device as in claim 3, wherein the first and second handles extend from the top surface, to a point above the top surface, the first and second handles extending sufficiently high that the user can grasp both the first and second handles while standing on the central part of the top surface where the user's foot is located.
 5. The device as in claim 4, where the first and second handles are cylindrical poles.
 6. The device as in claim 4, wherein the first and second handles are removable from the top surface.
 7. The device as in claim 4, wherein the top surface includes plural different holes thereon, the plural different holes defining different locations into which the handle can be located.
 8. The device as in claim 1, wherein the location for the user to rest their foot on includes an elastomeric ball, partly recessed into the top surface.
 9. An exercise device, comprising: a device defining a top surface, the top surface having a left side and a right side, and front and back sides, where the front side includes a location for a user to rest their foot on the top surface in a central part of the top surface, and includes two handles allowing a user to hold on relative to the top surface, attached to the top surface, wherein the device also having a bottom surface, and where the bottom surface includes a central pivot point between side to side at the central part of the top surface, said central pivot point being between first and second stability points, the first stability point being at the left side and the second stability point being at the right side, and wherein the bottom surface also includes a third stability point at a front portion of the bottom of the top surface, directly under the central part of the top surface where the user rests their foot, and a fourth stability point at a rear portion of the top surface, opposite to the front portion of the top surface, and a central pivot point from front to back in between the third stability point and the fourth stability point.
 10. The device as in claim 9, where the first and second handles are cylindrical poles.
 11. The device as in claim 9, wherein the location for the user to rest their foot on includes an elastomeric ball, partly recessed into the top surface.
 12. A method of exercising on an exercise device, comprising: a user standing on a top surface, the top surface having a left side and a right side, and front and back sides, the user standing on a location on the front side where the user can rest their foot on the top surface in a central part of the top surface; the user holding two handles relative to the top surface; the user rocking the device side to side and front to back, where the bottom surface includes a central pivot point between side to side at the central part of the top surface, said central pivot point being between first and second stability points, the first stability point being at the left side and the second stability point being at the right side, and wherein the bottom surface also includes a third stability point at a front portion of the bottom of the top surface, directly under the central part of the top surface where the user rests their foot, and a fourth stability point at a rear portion of the top surface, opposite to the front portion of the top surface, and a central pivot point from front to back in between the third stability point and the fourth stability point.
 13. The method as in claim 12, where the first and second handles are cylindrical poles attached relative to the top surface.
 14. The method as in claim 12, wherein the location for the user to rest their foot on includes an elastomeric ball, partly recessed into the top surface. 